Indianrock2020

I posted this on the HD forum and got good answers but thought I'd share here. The issue was running jtv to POD ( 500x) over VDI while using a vocal/harmony pedal that required 1/4 inch connections from guitar so it knows what key you're singing in. Solution, for now, was to add an fx loop at the beginning of each patch. So: Guitar>POD over VDI POD FX send to vocal pedal input vocal pedal 1/4 out "thru" to POD FX return First time I've used the fx loop so I left it's knobs at default for now. More complicated than I'd like and takes up one of the 8 effects positions on the POD. All of a sudden the cheap laptop power supply started causing noise in this somewhat complicated collection of cables and electrical connections. Switching to my original Toshiba power supply seems to have fixed that. So far this vocal pedal is amazing -- great for those of us not born with an awesome voice: http://www.tc-helicon.com/en/products/voicetone-harmony-g-xt/

I guess the fx loop doesn't use any ( or much ) DSP but for the few occasions where I sing and need the fx loop, this maxes out my use of effects. 1. fx Loop 2. Noise Gate 3. Compressor 4. Overdrive 5. Parametric EQ 6. Delay 7. Hall Reverb 8. Volume Pedal effect

Ok it worked. What I did was run fx loop out to vocal pedal, AND another cable ( not dummy) returning the signal to fx loop return. The fx loop effect was left at the default settings, with the switch on the back of the pod set at stomp box. It does take up a POD effects slot but I rarely use them all anyway. vocal pedal specs: http://www.tc-helicon.com/en/products/voicetone-harmony-g-xt/specs/ Instrument Input Connector: Unbalanced 1/4″, input imp. 1MOhm Instrument In Sensitivity: +15dBu @ 0dBFS Instrument Thru Connector: Unbalanced 1/4″ phone jack Instrument Thru output impedance: 270 Ohm

Thx. I may also need a dummy plug on The Voice pedal through jack that's how you prevent it from sending the guitar out with the vocal to the PA

Just got a Jtv variax and a vocal/harmony pedal. I really want to run VDI cable from JTV to POD, but the vocal pedal needs Pre-effect guitar signal to set the key. Maybe I can run 1/4 guitar cable from guitar to vocal pedal in addition to the VDI connection. Or possibly use the FX send somehow on the POD. The vocal pedal ( VoiceTone Harmony-G XT | TC-Helicon ) has a 1/4 instrument in and 1/4 instrument "thru" which I want to use because I don't want guitar being processed by that pedal and going out to PA along with the vocal. Or maybe not use the VDI, but I'll have my POD presets set up to use specific guitar models on the variax and I'm not sure that works using 1/4 cable from guitar to POD. ( no vdi means making sure your battery is good also )

I don't see how the Helix can be viewed as the 500x replacement. That's like saying a top of the line Porsche is the Ford Taurus replacement.

Sorry, even with a magnifying glass I wasn't 100% sure. :-)

So those are Shaller M6 SC50165-2 10060223 ?

The Shallers at Amazon show a screw hole. But I'll also check out the sperzel style. Yeah main thing is that the screw hole is in the same place as the originals. My first image in the first post was the wrong type -- those show a pin, not a screw. If the phillips head screws at the end of each tuning knob ( originals ) can be tightened I might be ok with the existing tuners.

Diagrams show the shaft ( tuner hold diameter ) at 9.8 mm = .3858 inch or about 25/64 inch The thickness of the headstock this is designed for seems to be the same - 9.8mm http://guitar-machine-heads.com/download/C1ffcfe16X12a3c495d85X2f5/GitarrenMechanik_M6Klemmmechanik_Pin.pdf?ITServ=CYb58380X15426c05743XY3bbd

I found some posts here where these were used with easy installation. I know there are cheaper options but my main concern is no drilling or other modifications needed. Schaller Locking Tuners 3x3 Chrome

Sorry for the newbie question. Is the connection JTV <-> 500x with VDI and 500x <-> computer with usb ? I saw one video where they connected jtv to laptop with VDI and said use a stereo 1/4 inch cable from jtv to POD ?

Already ordered, but will keep that in mind -- good price.

Crusinon2, yes I do overthink. Ask my wife. With the new strings I'm really liking this guitar. Once I get the new VDI cable I'm hoping the occasionally disconnect at the guitar jack will go away. I've been struggling to decide which of my other guitars has to go ( a deal with wife ). 74 Strat with Gold Lace Sensor pickups , a new Warmoth neck with medium-jumbo stainless frets and locking tuners, or the CarvinAE185. Probably going to be the Carvin. I don't think the acoustic tone it produces with the piezo bridge is as convincing as the JTV ( no modeling in the Carvin) and the acoustic-electric strings make it harder to do "electric guitar stuff" even though it has two humbuckers.

If I received a guitar from 2013 it tells me they aren't selling a ton of them. So having 44 built in a week seems unlikely. Maybe 44th for November 2013. All guesses.

Just received a new JTV59. What would some of your first actions be on such a guitar ( many would apply to any new guitar )? Since my serial number suggests 2013 as the build year ( W1311.....) I started with new strings. I seem to be getting intermittent connection of the VDI cable at the jack on the guitar so ordered the longer Line6 cable. A quick check suggests intonation isn't bad, and the fresh, heavier strings seem to be reducing fret buzz on the 6th string in the 5th-8th fret area, but if it still needs relief I'm always undecided about whether to raise the bridge on that side, or loosen the truss rod a bit. Other than that it's finding HD500x patches built for such a guitar and it's models because the patches I already have were for a regular strat. I will need strap locks but would really like to find a set that will work with the screws already in the guitar ( or comes with identical screws ). Alternatively I'd have to pull the existing screws and go to the hardware store with the new strap locks to try and find some that work without risking my internal electronics.

Has anyone found strap locks that will either work with the screws already in the JTV, or come with screws the right size?

One more request for guidance before ordering and installing these: Dunlop SLS1031N Straplok® Dual Design Strap Retainer System, Nickel I have a strap and case on the way and I'm sure the strap isn't going to fit in the case. Walker & Williams G-26 Black Semi-Gloss Bullnose Guitar Strap with Padded Glovesoft Back

Serial W13110044 is theoretically Manufacture Date November 2013 so if that's when the strings went on, no wonder they sound flat. :-)

Makes perfect sense --- knowledge is 90% of the battle :-) How do I locate the production date?

Found a couple of fixable problems. The longer Cat5 cable I have isn't making a secure connection to the guitar -- easy for it to move enough to break connection. The line6 cable should be here Saturday. Also, the guitar turned out to be tuned down a half step -- I mean the actual tuning on the guitar, not any modeled tuning. I'm wondering how old the strings are on a newly delivered guitar. Obviously the neck is jumping through hoops getting acclimated to NW Washington State in a room typically kept at about 60 degrees days, 50s at night.

Ok got it working mostly. Works now with POD set to variax input using just the vdi cable. Model knob on guitar comes on and off perfectly with only the VDI cable hooked up to the POD. I had to switch the alternate tuning knob from standard to Model to get modeling coming thru the POD and into the amp. Obviously I need to do more reading. The jtv pilot's guide is too brief but setting model to Chime and pushing down on the tuning knob ( with pickup selector "up" in neck position ) I was able to get some 12 string going. That is one of the model's I want to perfect the most. The D'Addario strings it came with seem too light so I'll change to my normal D'Addario Nickel Wound XL's in 11-49 That may put a tad more bend in the neck and get rid of some fret rattle. Convinced enough now that I went ahead and ordered a strap, case and long gig-quality Line6 VDI cable. Still mulling over strap locks -- probably these Dunlop SLS1031N Straplok® Dual Design Strap Retainer System, Nickel Although I'm tempted to keep everything black -- guitar, strap and locks, but nickel matches the tuners.

It's odd that monkey and workbench recognize the guitar, but the 500x doesn't seem to. I'm sure the POD is up to date.

Yes did all of that. Fortunately, the model knob does light up and turn on/off easily. But apparently only if the 1/4 inch cable is also plugged in. Tried all possible pod input settings and couldn't get models to operate, the sound was the same so I'm assuming only the mag pickups are working so far.

Two places I'm not clear about, which may or may not be my problem. First, the POD inputs can be set to global or preset. Second, on the HdEdit Mixer Tab there are settings for the JTV, like "unlocked." One other thing is the order of turning on the POD and when to make the vdi connections. I just ordered the longer, stouter VDI cable because obviously the one that comes with the JTV is too short and wimpy, and unplugging a standard Cat5 jack is not fun on the guitar itself. Even the Line6 vdi cable looks like its going to be a fingernail breaker getting it unplugged, but overall I like the options VDI offers for playing live. However if my presets on the POD are all fixed in advance to select the correct guitar model, string volumes etc, then maybe the 1/4 cable would be ok live.